Kok Kee Wanton Noodle 国记云吞面 (Lavendar)

Kok Kee Wanton Noodle 国记云吞面 (Lavendar) has been a stall I have been wanting try for years.I was thrilled to be sent on course with the course location a 5 minutes walk away from Kok Kee. 

Jumbo seems to have completed the $2.1 million acquisition for a 75% stake in the stall and brand as the owners are not spotted at the stall. 

In addition, the staff are now wearing uniforms. 

Price wise, I understand that it has not changed since the acquisition. Each plate of Wanton Noodle starts at $5. 

I wanted to try both the dumplings and wanton. Hence, I ordered the $5 wanton noodles and added on two dumplings for $2. Which means each dumpling cost $1 and the total cost of the meal was $7. If you ask me, price is on the higher end. Unless Jumbo expands the number of outlets aggressively, I wonder when they are going to breakeven and generate returns for their shareholders. 

I have never tried Kok Kee before and cannot compare the taste prior to the acquisition. What stood out for me was the wanton noodle. It tasted so difference from elsewhere. Each strand of noodle was so smooth, soft yet springy. With their home made special sauce I found myself slurping the noodles endlessly. It was that good. The two pieces of wanton and char siew were average. At least the dumpling was decent, big in size and had a crunchy bite. The star of the dish was really the noodles with the special sauce. Not too sure that it is worth the $5 price tag. 

Kok Kee Wanton Noodle 国记云吞面
30 Foch Rd, #01-02
Singapore 209276
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 10pm

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ENG's Wantan Noodle (Vivo City)

I have heard so much about ENG’s wanton noodle before but not given it a try as it is located away from where I stay.

Ironically, in a twist of events, the recent dispute between the founder's son and business partner over how the original stall was run resulted in them splitting. Which led to Eng’s Wanton Noodle expanding aggressively across the island.

This happened when the business partner decided to exit the business and transferring the lease to the chief executive of Lao Huo Tang (老火汤), who decided to bring Eng’s wanton noodles to the heartlands to make it more convenient for customers to grab a bite instead of going all the way to Tanjong Katong Road.

If you are still confused, ENG's Wantan Noodle is managed by Lao Huo Tang while ENG'S Char Siew Wantan Mee is by the founder's children. By now, you may have noticed ENG's Wantan Noodle appearing in many heartlands. Besides Vivo City, they are also at many other locations such as Westgate, Bukit Panjang, Eastpoint Mall, AMK Hub and 287 Tanjong Katong Road, Northpoint City, Causeway Point and Tiong Bahru Plaza.

Their menu at Vivo City is limited as the unit space is small. They sell only Wanton Mee, Wanton, Ngoh Hiang, Oyster Sauce Vegetable and Drinks. The pork lard is free flow. The outlet at Northpoint sells Toast and Soft Boiled Eggs too.

This is the large version of the dry Wanton Mee which cost $5.50. The wanton noodles was cooked perfectly. The texture, springiness and taste of the noodles was spot on. It was good enough such that you can keep slurping only the noodles and not feel jelak (sick of eating).

The Fried Wantan $3 did not stand out. The filling and taste was typical of the fried wantan you can get elsewhere.

The $6 Fried Ngoh Hiang was average too. As a Teochew, I may have been too particular about this dish and am too used to having chestnuts in my Ngoh Hiang (which provides a crunchy bite).

Taste wise, I was expecting to be wow. Although I was not wow, I must say that the taste of the wanton mee, specifically, the noodles was above average. Surprisingly, considering how fast the business has expanded. I can foresee myself coming back just for the Wanton Mee again and again.

ENG's Wantan Noodle

#B2-26A VivoCity

1 Harbourfront Walk

Singapore 098585

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Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia 鸿记面食家 (Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre)

Dumpling Noodle $3.50 with Char Siew $1

Other than Seng Huat Prawn Noodles 成發,Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia 鸿记面食家  is another stall that is very popular at this food centre.

This stall specialises in serving old school style wanton noodle, dumpling noodle and even chicken claw noodle. Do note that although the queue may seems short, the waiting time tend to be long.

While waiting, you can read the 3 articles that are displayed at the stall. One of the article stated that the owner of the stall, who is the man behind the stall cooking your food, has more than 40 years of experience in preparing, cooking and selling these noodles! He had done this his entire life and back then the cost of each bowl of noodles was 20 cents! Such devotion and perseverance.

I have been to the stall several times to try their different food items after having first try their Wanton Noodle. I must say that their food is really good. Homely, comforting and tasty. They also have a plastic bag of fried pork lard placed at the front of the stall for customers. However, on certain days the fried lard are crispy while on other days, they were not crispy (an indication that they were not fresh).

Wanton Noodle $3.50

This Wanton Noodle $3.50 was damn solid. The noodles were springy and the sauce was flavourful and just right, not too salty. The char siew had a high lean meat to fat ratio and few charred bits. But yet the char siew was surprisingly soft and tender. There were 3 pieces of wanton given. The wanton meat were well marinated and the wanton skin was smooth! Before I knew it, I had polished off all the wanton.

Chicken Claw Mushroom Noodle $3.50

This was the Chicken Claw Mushroom Noodle. It cost just $3.50 and comes with a pair of chicken claw and a whole braised mushroom. In all other hawker stalls, the mushroom would be sliced. I am not sure why this stall served the braised mushroom as a whole, but I preferred it this way because it gave a better bite, and retained more flavour and juice in it. I am won over already! The chicken claw was delicious and appeared to be more ‘meaty’ compared to other stalls.

Dumpling Noodle $3.50 with Char Siew $1

This was the Dumpling Noodle which cost $3.50. I topped up $1 for Char Siew. Look at the generous amount of char siew given! As for the dumplings, they were meaty and was filled with prawns, minced meat and chestnuts which provided a crunchy dimension to each mouthful!

Wanton Noodle $3.50 and Chicken Claw with Mushroom $1.50

On another occasion I actually had Wanton Noodle $3.50 with additional pair of Chicken Claw with Mushroom for $1.50. You should have known by now that I love their chicken claw and mushroom!

Needless to say, I think this stall’s food is really so good! It is a die die must try. The downside is that the lady at the counter is not always in the best mood. But who cares, good food makes the world goes round.

Hong Ji Mian Shi Jia 鸿记面食家 (Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre)

#01-05 Telok Blangah Drive Food Centre

79 Telok Blangah Drive
Singapore 100079
Opening Hours: Daily 7am to 8pm
                          Closed on Fridays

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632 Yishun Wanton Noodles

*Closed*

Wanton Mee $2.50

632 Yishun Wanton Noodles is another stall in Yishun that is quite popular. It is located in a coffeeshop at a quiet neighbourhood in Yishun. The only tell tale sign of its popularity is the queue at this stall.

As the name of the stall suggest, it sells Wanton Noodles, which most people orders. The second most popular dish is the Chicken Feet Noodles. One unique item available is the Spinach Noodles.  

The stall opens daily from 6am and the stall would typically close slightly after 10am when they have sold out their food. In fact it is quite ridiculous, I have visited on two weekends and on both occasions, their dumplings noodles and pork ribs noodles were sold out at 8.30am!

On weekdays, they close at around 1pm (will be earlier if they have sold out their food).

Wanton Mee $2.50

Their most popular dish; Wanton Noodles was really value for money. At $2,50, it was served with a generous serving of mee, char siew, vegetables and 3 wantons. There were pieces of chestnut in the wanton which provided helped provided a crunchy dimension. 

Taste wise, it was pretty decent. You really can't find fault with this dish when it cost only $2.50. In fact, my personal opinion is that it taste pretty good and was quite filling considering the price tag. 

Chicken Feet Noodles $3.00

As for the Chicken Feet Noodles $3.00, it was served with 2 pieces of braised chicken claws, 2 pieces of mushroom and a very generous serving of mee.

Chicken Feet Noodles $3.00

Taste wise, while the chicken claws taste pretty decent, it was a waste that the mushrooms were dry and not fragrant. Else, this would have been a very good dish.

A tip, instead of ordering this mee kia noodles, you can consider ordering kway teow/horfun! Somehow, it taste way better =).

632 Yishun Wanton Noodles

632 Yishun Street 61

Singapore 760632

Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 1pm (or till sold out)

                          Closed on 1 weekday every fortnight 

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Yong Kang Beef Noodles 永康牛肉麵 (Taiwan, Taipei)

Braised Beef with Noodle in Spicy Broth 红烧牛肉麺

Yong Kang Beef Noodles 永康牛肉麵 opened since 1963 is known to be one of the best beef noodles restaurant in Tapei especially for their Spicy Broth 红烧 variety. Yong Kang Beef Noodles is located at Yong Kang Street 永康牛, a dining destination in Taipei with restaurants, cafes  and carts selling all types of food that cater to all budgets. This is also the place where the original Din Tai Feng restaurant is located at.

We arrived at the restaurant for lunch at around 2 pm as we got lost along the way. Despite the late timing, there was still a queue in front of the stall.

Menu

 This is the menu for tourist with translation of the dishes in different languages.

Wanton with Hot Chilli Sauce 红烧抄手

When we saw that they had the Wanton with Hot Chilli Sauce 红烧抄手, we knew that we just had to order it. As you can see from the photo, the wantons are placed on top of the chilli oil and pepper. It is extremely spicy and addictive! Not for the faint hearted.

Braised Beef with Noodle in Spicy Broth 红烧牛肉麺

This is the signature Braised Beef with Noodle in Spicy Broth 红烧牛肉麺 which is raved to be one of the best. The Australian beef servings are generous and so tender with a melt-in-the-mouth sensation. As for the noodles, they were decent, smooth and chewy. The spicy broth was a winner. It was spicy but so flavourful. No doubt one of the best beef noodles we ate in Taiwan!

Braised Beef with Noodle in Clear Broth 清燉牛肉麺

As for the Braised Beef with Noodle in Clear Broth 清燉牛肉麺, the only difference was that the broth was not spicy. It was still flavourful nevertheless. I prefer the one with spicy broth, this version would be good for those who cannot take spicy food.

This name card shows the location and address of the restaurant. The beef noodles definitely made this trip worthwhile. A must try!

Yong Kang Beef Noodles 永康牛肉麵 (Taiwan, Taipei)

台北市金山南路二段31巷17號 

No. 17, Street 31, Jinshan South Road Section 2, Taipei

Tel: 02 2351 1051 

Opening Hours: Daily: 11am to 9.30 pm
Directions: From Dongmen MRT 東門 (Tamsui-Xinyi Line - Red), Exit 4, walk straight and turn right immediately into the small road. Walk straight till you see Jinhua Primary School. Take a right turn and you will see the restaurant a few units away.  
Website

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Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee (Old Airport Road Food Centre)

Wanton Mee $5

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee 華記后港祖傳馳名云吞麵 is a popular Wanton Mee stalll located at Old Airport Road Food Centre. It is just next to Cho Kee Noodle which is also another popular Wanton Mee Stall.

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee has more than 40 years of history. Their wanton mee is so popular because of two factors. One is because of the noodles. Their noodles are not bought off the shelf. Instead these are made according to their own recipe. Secondly, it is because of their special chilli sauce.

Wanton Mee $5

I upsized my Wanton Mee from $3.50 to $5. The bowl was literally filled to the brim with noodles, wantons, char siew and vegetables. 

Wanton Mee $5

The noodles tasted different from those else where. It was smooth, springy and not lumpy. It was soft and yet not to the extend of breaking easily. Their noodles remind me of the noodles I had at Fei Fei Wanton Mee. 

The wantons were real good. The skin was soft and smooth while the filings in it were tasty with bits of what seems like chestnut which provided a crunch. The char siew was not fantastic though. Although it was not dry, they could have charred the sides a little bit to provide a greater contrast in the taste and up the fragrance by a notch or two. As for the chilli sauce, it was unique. It was fragrant with just a very small hint of spiciness. It went very well with the noodles. I wonder how they made the chilli sauce. It could complement a whole range of food.

This bowl of Wanton Mee is delicious. If I am leaving nearby, I could well be eating this on a regular basis. 

Hua Kee Hougang Famous Wanton Mee 華記后港祖傳馳名云吞麵 (Old Airport Road Food Centre)

#01-02 Old Airport Road Food Centre

Blk 51 Old Airport Road

Singapore 390051

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am to 11pm

                           Closed on Mon

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BaaMee Bangkok (Jalan Besar)

Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5

BaaMee Bangkok located in Jalan Besar along Syed Alwi Road opened in late 2014. It seems to be the only stall (besides the drink stall) in operation at that coffeeshop. Hence, there would be plenty seats available.

BaaMee Bangkok's menu is limited with just 6 dishes on the menu. The more prominent dishes are theThai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5 and Kaa Moo (Stewed Pig Trotters) $6.

 It seems that the food at the stall is dished by a Thai chef.

Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5

 I ordered the Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5.

Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5

 It was beautifully plated on a flowery bowl and served with a bowl of wantons and wanton soup.

Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5

As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. This Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) was incredibly fiery (spicy). The addition of the chilli & pepper powder, garlic infused oil, pork lard, peanuts and garlic sauce lead to a complexity of taste. I was wondering why I did not find it very spicy. The spiciness set in half an hour after my meal, when I felt my stomach burning.

Although the slices of Char Siew was a little on the dry end, they were still tasty. As for the egg noodles which looked dry, they were surprisingly springy and tasty when well mixed.  

Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) $5

The wantons provided was bigger and plumper compared to other stalls. 

This bowl of Thai Tom Yum Baa Mee (Wanton Mee) was beyond my expectation in terms of taste. It was just so delicious and addictive. I had wanted to rate this as a must try. But on my second visit, I felt that the standard had dropped (or was inconsistent). Found out much later that they had opened another branch in Toa Payoh Central. I hope that the standard and taste is not compromised by this expansion as this could eventually hurt their business even at their main outlet.

BaaMee Bangkok (Jalan Besar)

45 Syed Alwi Road

Singapore 207636

Tel: +65 9636 0048

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am to 9pm

                           Closed on Mon

BaaMee Bangkok (Toa Payoh)

Blk 177, Toa Payoh Central 

Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 8am - 330pm 

                           Closed on Monday

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Chin Seng Cooked Food (Tekka Centre)

Wanton Noodles $3

Chin Seng Cooked Food is a noodles stall located at Tekka Market and Food Centre run by an elderly couple.

The stall owners make the Char Siew themselves each morning. The lady owner explained that making the Char Siew themselves is nicer compared to buying it (outside). Although their opening hours is from 7am to 3pm daily, they have to come before 5am to prepare. And after closing, they would also need to wash the dishes, clean the stall and prepare for the next day. Sometimes they have to stay till as late as 5pm. It is literally a 12 hours job. Despite that, they do not have any rest day as they need to earn a living.

This is also partly the reason why, you would see them wrapping wanton / dumplings whenever they have any free time.

Wanton Noodles $3

For just $3, this plate of Wanton Noodles (mee) is value for money. It came with lots of noodles, char siew, vegetables and a bowl of wanton soup.

Wanton Noodles $3

Lot at the amount of carbo (noodles) give. The noodles was not overcooked and there was lots of sauce underneath it. The char siew which they made themselves was delicious. It was not dry and had a good balance of lean meat and fats.

Wanton Noodles $3

There were five pieces of wanton given. The wantons were delicious. They were so generous with the meat  fillings and seasoned it well.

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

On another occasion, I ordered the Dumpling Noodles $3 and topped up $0.50 for their char siew.

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

The char siew which they made themselves was so delicious. I love the charred bits at the exterior!

Dumpling Noodles $3 (with Char Siew $0.50)

Four pieces of dumplings was given. These were big and delicious! They have probably added pieces of chestnuts into it to give it a crunchy bite.

Chicken Chop Noodles $3

I also tried their Chicken Chop Noodles $3. The chicken is fried just before serving. In bite sizes, children will love this!

I can forsee myself coming back for more wanton noodles and dumpling noodles! The food here is cheap and good! 

Chin Seng Cooked Food (Tekka Centre)

665 Buffalo Road 

#01-294 Tekka Centre 

Singapore 210665
Opening Hours: Daily 7am to 3pm

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